Methodologies for assessing socio-economic benefits of European inland recreational fisheries
The EIFAC Methodologies for assessing socio-economic benefits of European inland recreational fisheries were prepared in 2009 by the European Inland Fisheries Advisory Commission (EIFAC) Ad Hoc Working Party on Socio-Economic Aspects of Inland Fisheries. EIFAC considered that the implementation of fisheries policy and management would benefit from a more compatible, comparable and scientifically rigorous application of benefit evaluation methods. To reach this goal, the Working Party prepared guidelines to conduct surveys focusing on social and economic benefits of inland recreational fishing in EIFAC member countries.
Due to institutional aspects and management traditions, these guidelines are confined to Europe. By means of this Occasional Paper, the Working Party tries to highlight both the methodological and practical viewpoints when assessing the monetary value of social net benefits or other societal benefits from recreational fishing. The purpose is to make societal and economic valuation more accessible and to give insight to best current practices and black spots related to these tools.